Is it Even Possible to Simplify Your Busy Life?
When you are working, dealing with the many issues that your children still bring your way, being an active grandparent, caring for elderly parents, maybe going back to school, trying to take care of yourself, and handling the lion’s share of “home arts,” simplifying your life probably sounds really great right now! Especially when summer is here and you’d rather be sipping a Margarita by the pool.
Well, I can’t promise that poolside Shangri-La, but I can share some tips that have worked for me recently. But, first let me put down my Margarita!
Take care of yourself first
Yes, I know you know, but sometimes a reminder is a good thing. If you are not at your best, you will not have the energy and good health necessary to live your best life. Exercise, eat healthily, take your vitamins…you know.
Give up perfection
Ooooo, hard one! Stop trying to never make a mistake. Stop beating yourself up for that extra 10 pounds that is clinging to your waist for dear life or those roots that need attention. Stop racing after your cat with a whisk broom. If you can’t afford help, what’s SO wrong with cleaning the house just once a month? And what if your friends come over for dinner and your windows aren’t clean? Friends just don’t care! Instead, read and share something interesting and they will find you so fascinating that they won’t even notice those darn windows. How about those kids? It’s amazing how they really can come up with some creative solutions, if you are not always making magic for them. Perfection and guilt go hand-in-hand. Both are energy zappers, they are not fun, and you can enhance your life by giving them both up.
Plan
Advance planning can enable you to get more done, take you out of your “interrupt driven” mode, and it helps you figure out what you DON’T need to do. Make a list of all the things you think you need to do. Then ruthlessly (preferably with a broad felt tip marker) cross out every single thing that you absolutely do not need to do. Then push out those “once a week” tasks to “once a month” and maybe those “once a month” items to “twice a year!” Then add on a couple of things that you really WANT to do now that you have extra time. Which brings me to the next tip…
Let Other s Help
Don’t be a martyr and say (inside your head), “If they really wanted to help they would ask” or, what about “I shouldn’t HAVE to ask!” Ask, Ask, Ask! And, accept help when offered too.
De-clutter
By this time in our lives we have accumulated so much stuff that even rental lockers are overflowing. Get rid of it! Everything you are not using probably could be used by someone else. Don’t throw it in the landfill. Have a yard sale, sell on eBay, or give it to someone else to use. Or, consider reading the marriage announcements and contacting them to see if they’d like any of your lightly used “stuff.” How many sets of dishes do you need? Are you really ever going to use the in-line skates or mini trampoline? Even Great Aunt Bertha hated her side table that’s been buried in your garage for 25 years. Tell your kids they have 3 months to come and get their childhood belongings. Decide what works with your life now and release the rest. (P.S. I hope my husband reads this!)
Downsize
Just start thinking about the possibilities…trading the homestead for a condo or smaller home. Beef up that retirement account and save time too!
Buy a red sports car!
Just seeing it will make you want to simplify your life so you have the time to race around in it!
